One of the killers of James Bulger has been charged with downloading child porn, it was revealed yesterday.

Jon Venables, now 27, now faces up to ten years back in prison.

He is accused of downloading 57 indecent images of children from the internet and distributing seven images by allowing others to access files on his computer through a 'peer-to-peer network'.

The charges can be disclosed after a ban on reporting the case was partially lifted by a High Court judge, following a challenge by a number of media organisations.

On May 21 this year, a court order was made at the request of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, preventing any publication of the charges to ensure Venables could receive a fair trial.

But Mr Justice Bean lifted the restrictions yesterday in the interests of open justice.

Next month Venables will make his first appearance in a public arena since his conviction in November 1993 for murdering two-year-old James.

Venables, who has been living under a different identity following his release from custody nine years ago, was recalled to prison in February for allegedly breaching his parole.

The charges read to the Old Bailey yesterday revealed that he is accused of amassing indecent pictures between February 2009 and February 2010 and distributing them last February.

The hearing was held in private, but Mr Justice Bean allowed the charges to be reported.

Gavin Millar, QC, prosecuting said: 'The first count, the making of indecent photographs, covers downloading on to his own computer. Count two covers the distribution through the internet of indecent images.

'The Crown's case is that seven images were downloaded by Venables between February 1and 27, 2010, but he used and had available peer-to-peer software on his computer.

'This made it possible for other internet users who searched for photos to download them. It's not been established whether any actually did for that finite period.'

Venables is due to appear via videolink at the Old Bailey on July 23 to enter a plea.

Venables and Robert Thompson (left) were convicted of murdering two-year-old James Bulger (right) in 1993

After the hearing, the family of James Bulger blasted justice
officials for keeping the family and the public in the dark over the
prosecution.

James's father Ralph Bulger, 43, said the family were relieved
that the charges had finally been made public. But he also told of the
family's frustration that the authorities had snubbed their requests
for

Solicitor Robin Makin, representing Mr Bulger and his brother James
Patrick Bulger, who is known as Jimmy, said the case would reignite
speculation about the motivation for James's murder.

He said: 'It is an enormous relief that today the family of James
Bulger have finally been told for the first time that the man who
murdered James Bulger has been charged.

'Great anguish and distress has been suffered by Ralph and his brother Jimmy.

'Jimmy had the responsibility of identifying James's mutilated and tortured remains.'

He added: 'The paternal family has been frustrated about not receiving any effective and useful support from the public authorities since Venables was recalled to custody.

'Issues have been raised with the Lord Chancellor, the Attorney
General, the cabinet secretary. It's now hoped that steps will be taken
to readdress the enormous deficiencies of the public authority to
date.'

James's mother, Denise Fergus said: 'It is right that the
charges should be made public. I simply want to see justice done in
this case.

'I have been kept informed, to an extent, about the legal
proceedings. My solicitor has made representations on my behalf about
the way the case is going to be handled. I'm awaiting a reply to that
formal approach.' Venables and Robert Thompson, both ten, snatched
James in Bootle, Merseyside, in 1993. They walked him to a railway
line, beat him to death and left his body to be hit by a train.

They were jailed for life but released on licence in 2001 and given new identities at huge cost to the taxpayer.

The aim was to give them the best possible chance of rehabilitation without fear of vigilante attacks or harassment.

The terms of Venables' parole imposed strict conditions on his contact with youngsters.

An order still bans the public from knowing Venables' new identity, his address, where he is held and what he looks like.

The case against Venables has been shrouded in secrecy. The Mail revealed last March that he would face child porn charges. A High Court injunction then prevented all media from revealing his new name, any information about his whereabouts and any picture or description of him. It also banned any information about criminal proceedings or the nature of the Crown's case. Yesterday after the order was challenged by the Daily Mail, along with a number of other media, many of the restrictions were lifted.